I was checking out the world title history at WWE.com and I saw a name I didn’t expect: Chris Benoit. I was shocked. I thought Benoit’s legacy had been redacted by WWE. A further check of WWE.com revealed that two DVDs featuring Benoit are for sale: A Royal Rumble collection, and a steel-cage match collection. Benoit still exists in the WWE universe.

Now, with a movie on Benoit’s life being mooted, is it time to stop forgetting, if not forgive?

You can’t forgive. Benoit committed a heinous, horrible act that damaged the wrestling business far beyond his contributions.

But to act as if Benoit never existed is silly. He was one of the greatest workers of his generation, a performer who beat size limitations to become a star – a star in WWE, no less, where bigger has always been better. Furthermore, he had great matches, and those matches were with other people. Is it fair to forget their contributions?

That said, I don’t know how you name-drop Benoit on WWE TV without A) invoking memories of that terrible night and B) adding a clumsy disclaimer. It’s not worth it.

I don’t see the value in a Benoit movie. He wasn’t a particularly charismatic or interesting guy outside the ring. I don’t see what the story is beyond the matches and the murders. It would not be inspiring. Who wants to see a movie that’s depressing and gruesome?

If the Benoit legacy dies a natural death – and perhaps that’s exactly what’s happened – then so be it. More impressive wrestling legacies reside in that graveyard, that’s for sure.

I have nothing but fond memories of Benoit. As I’ve often recounted, he was a good friend when we worked together in WCW. I prefer to remember Benoit for the time we spent together, and as a top-shelf performer, rather than for one night gone horribly wrong.

I’m glad to see WWE no longer seems to be pursuing the militant extermination of Benoit’s existence. It’s always funny/ironic when Vince McMahon tries to pass moral judgment. While I don’t think a Benoit DVD retrospective would be appropriate, I see nothing wrong with watching a WrestleMania XX DVD and enjoying Benoit’s world title victory.

PUNK’D!

The “contract signing” for the WWE title match at TLC was exemplary of why wrestling sucks.

Oh, everyone played his part well enough – except Johnny Ace, who hasn’t pleased anyone since Mrs. Baba. C.M. Punk’s promo skills, his earnest delivery – does it get any better? Miz and Alberto del Rio did nice, brief drop-ins. Less is more when they’re out there with Punk.

That said, Punk’s references to trending on Twitter, and him pointing out the clichéd nature of wrestling contract signings, how they always end in “pier six brawls” – it all adds up to a proclamation wrestling fans too often have rubbed in their faces: THIS IS FAKE. “Are we going to start fighting now?” FAKE, FAKE, FAKE, FAKE.

DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT. Act like signing a contract to be in this match could lead to your career’s high point. Talk about how important it would be to win. DON’T FIGHT. Save that for the ACTUAL FIGHT. They might buy it if they HAVEN’T ALREADY SEEN IT.

The worst thing wrestling EVER did was break kayfabe on-camera. Swear to Jeebus.

I’m often chastised by obviously younger fans in the comments section of my columns, and I admit, perhaps this simply IS what wrestling has become. Fine. Enjoy it. I just know the product was markedly different 10-15 years ago, and a LOT MORE PEOPLE WERE WATCHING.

Mark Madden hosts a radio show 3-6 p.m. weekdays on WXDX-FM, Pittsburgh, PA (105.9). Check out his web page at WXDX.com. Contact Mark by emailing wzmarkmadden@hotmail.com . FOLLOW MARK ON TWITTER: @MARKMADDENX